Frequency Bands Used in The United States
| Current / Planned Technologies | Previous Technologies | Band | Frequency (MHz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3G, 4G, MediaFlo, DVB-H | 700 | 698–806 | |
| SMR iDEN, ESMR CDMA (future), ESMR LTE (future) | 800 | 806–824 and 851–869 | |
| GSM, IS-95 (CDMA), 3G | AMPS, IS-136 (D-AMPS) | 850 | 824–849 and 869–894 |
| Unknown | 1400 | 1,392–1,395 and 1,432–1,435 | |
| GSM, IS-95 (CDMA), 3G, 4G | IS-136 (D-AMPS) | PCS | 1,850–1,910 and 1,930–1,990 |
| 3G, 4G | AWS | 1,710–1,755 and 2,110–2,155 | |
| 4G | BRS/EBS | 2,496–2,690 |
The usage of frequencies within the United States is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The US is then divided geographically into a number of Trading Areas. A mobile operator (or other interested parties) must bid on each trading area individually. A bidder can use the frequency spectrum for whatever purpose they want. Go to Wireless Advisor for a listing of the network operators for a given ZIP code.
The 869–894 MHz cellular band is divided into 2 frequency blocks (A and B). There are 306 Metropolitan Service Areas and 428 rural service areas. Each trading area consists of one or more counties.
The 1850–1990 MHz PCS band is divided into six frequency blocks (A through F). Each block is between 10 MHz and 30 MHz bandwidth. License (A or B) is granted for a Major Trading Areas (MTAs). License (C to F) is granted for a Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). There are 51 MTAs and 493 BTAs in the United States.
The AWS bands, auctioned in the summer of 2006, were for 1,710–1,755 MHz, and 2,110–2,155 MHz. The spectrum was divided into blocks: A blocks were for Cellular Market Areas, based on existing cellular (1G) licenses, and were 2 × 10 MHz. B and C blocks (2 × 10 MHz and 2 × 5 MHz respectively) were for Basic Economic Areas, larger than CMAs, usually comprising large portions of single states. D, E, and F blocks covered huge areas of the country, typically several states at a time, and covered 2 × 5 MHz for D and E blocks, 2 × 10 MHz for F.
The 700 MHz band was auctioned in early 2008 using spectrum previously used by television stations' analog broadcasts, with Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility winning the majority of available spectrum. Qualcomm and Echostar were winners of a significant amount of broadcast-oriented spectrum. Verizon Wireless has announced they are using the lower band of the 700 MHz spectrum to deploy their LTE network starting on Dec 5, 2010.
The SMR 800 MHz band was used exclusively for iDEN technology, however, Sprint Nextel is deploying CDMA and LTE technology on this band. As of 2 September 2011 (2011 -09-02), the FCC has approved several CDMA devices for use on the SMR band.
More bands are under consideration for auction by the FCC. These are currently used by DoD, NASA, and other government agencies.
Cellular and PCS bands are also used in other countries in the Americas.
Read more about this topic: Cellular Frequencies
Famous quotes containing the words united states, frequency, bands, united and/or states:
“The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name.... We must be impartial in thought as well as in action ... a nation that neither sits in judgment upon others nor is disturbed in her own counsels and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and truly serviceable for the peace of the world.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“The frequency of personal questions grows in direct proportion to your increasing girth. . . . No one would ask a man such a personally invasive question as “Is your wife having natural childbirth or is she planning to be knocked out?” But someone might ask that of you. No matter how much you wish for privacy, your pregnancy is a public event to which everyone feels invited.”
—Jean Marzollo (20th century)
““Do not be afraid; for see -I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.””
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 2:10 -12.
Angels to the Shepherds.
“Because of these convictions, I made a personal decision in the 1964 Presidential campaign to make education a fundamental issue and to put it high on the nation’s agenda. I proposed to act on my belief that regardless of a family’s financial condition, education should be available to every child in the United States—as much education as he could absorb.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)
“Money is power, and in that government which pays all the public officers of the states will all political power be substantially concentrated.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)